Comparing '23 and '24 MMCA for makers Monday

Haven't even seen a cellar aged "on the shelf" or on a bar yet. Which sucks as I'm a big Maker's fan. Heard 2023 was way, better, but clearly can't confirm

I saw a bottle at Spec's, but couldn't justify it in my head at the time.

So I have never been a Makers fan. '23 MMCA was the first Makers I had that I knew I needed a bottle of. Got one in a trade after trying it in a bad. My local store gave me the '24 but I haven't cracked it yet. After this sample tonight I will, because I like it better than the '23. So far it's been 50/50 on which one is better from people I know who have had both.

Shaggie 05 said:

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Haven't even seen a cellar aged "on the shelf" or on a bar yet. Which sucks as I'm a big Maker's fan. Heard 2023 was way, better, but clearly can't confirm

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I have read the opposite. Most are saying 2024 is better.

One of my favorite bottles

Had the 23 and 24 at an event last month and agree with you - both are excellent but the 24 was my favorite. I was able to score my own bottle a few weeks ago, but haven't cracked it yet!

Great bottle

ECBP B524 any good?

I picked up 2 bottles but haven't opened them yet. I'm also curious to know what others think.

Has anyone tried?

Most on here have had it several times.
I like it. Some don't. Gotten a bit pricey though, just like a lot of bottles.

Very good. On my second bottle. Definitely worth the $75

This is about how I feel. It's single barrel and varies a lot. I've had bottles worth $75 or more, but most of them worth the $35 it used to be. This is a great example of a brand going past the right price point. Once the price hit $60 and up, it has started sitting on shelf, whereas it used to fly and be hard to find at $45-$55.

Which is funny because on secondary it sold for 75 with ease. Now that it's 75 and on the shelf, it sits. The ones I've had have ranged from pretty good to great, but I have a couple of picked up.

I'd get several others ahead of that even if it was only $30.

Shaggie 05 said:

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This is about how I feel. It's single barrel and varies a lot. I've had bottles worth $75 or more, but most of them worth the $35 it used to be. This is a great example of a brand going past the right price point. Once the price hit $60 and up, it has started sitting on shelf, whereas it used to fly and be hard to find at $45-$55.

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The extreme variation is what kills it.

Right after it won the award how ever long ago now, i picked up 4 or 5 bottles for `$28 or so and they were terrific The handful of bottles i have bought sense are no where close to it. It is too much of a crapshoot for the price.

I've had it many times and it's a good bottle. It's a single barrel though so it will vary. I've had one that was outstanding but none that are awful. I generally think it's better than another famous single barrel (Blanton's) which is generally good but I've had multiple bad bottles and only one great bottle.

Like others have said, at that price point it isn't worth it. Even at $30, I don't know that I would buy it. The Wild Turkey 70th is way better if you can find it.

I would take the McKenna over the 70th any day and I'm a huge Turkey fan.

I agree with this take.

I'd say it is a toss up on those two personally

Anyone had stagg 24B yet? The couple reviews I've seen aren't outstanding, but I've been a fan. I've never had any of the Jr days stuff which all sound much more respected.

Yes, it's really good. I just got it so only had two pours so far. It's not as good as 24A though and probably behind 23C as well.

I've had all the batches since they dropped the Jr and 22b, 23c, and 24a are the best so far imo. 24b could be in that discussion as it opens up, but just below those as a fresh crack.

24a and 24b are the only ones I've had side by side though. B is a great batch but the palate is muted compared to A. That's not a knock though, 24A was amazing for my palate right out of the gate and is going to be my fastest bottle kill ever. I'm a huge fan.

Had a sample of Bowman Brothers Cask Strength last night...it was phenomenal. I believe it was 135 proof but drank like 105-110 range.

I have heard batch 18 is up there.

Heard great things about Bowman cask strength but have NEVER seen it in TX. Is it distributed here? Anyone seen it on the shelf?

Never seen Bowman either

Odds of seeing it in Texas is very low. There are some bottles that are distributed but not many.

The easiest way to get it is via the VABC lottery for VA residents or through the Bowman Distillery lottery where you have to pick it up at the distillery.

I think I got a Bowman from lazurus (corpus area) a few years ago. May have just been a single barrel though. Really liked it.